Probably the last of the season. They've been getting sketchier each week. But in the meantime, yum.
Strawberries!
Probably the last of the season. They've been getting sketchier each week. But in the meantime, yum.
July 17th, Venice Vibe Art Show
Come out and join me for this great show Saturday, July 17th in the Santa Monica area! I'll be there from 6-9 PM. It's a sweet gallery space, and I have the biggest spot! I'll be showing 10 paintings, including 3 brand new pieces that have never been shown before. You've seen this one, Nalu, and I still have 2 more to reveal!
Free parking on the street. Wine and refreshments provided. Mmm wine!
The Happening Gallery
4047 Lincoln Blvd
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Here's a map!
View Larger Map
My art is available for viewing (and purchase) Tuesday through Sunday as well, for most of July. This would be a great time for you to acquire one of my pieces. I'm hoping for a very successful showing, as this is my introduction to the Los Angeles art scene.
Hello L.A!
Nalu . 12x36 inches . 2010
Nalu is the Hawaiian word for "wave."
Real beach sand covers the area beneath the waves. It's full of tiny pieces of rocks and shells, and colored a warm sandy hue that I've learned to associate with Hawaii. Which is not to say that that color is representative of all of Hawaii. The beaches there also have sand in shades of white, green, and black. Like MAGIC.
A number of people have asked if I'm ever going to paint Nami again, and I kept saying "probably not" even while creating this new painting. I wasn't being coy, I honestly didn't connect them in my mind. I mean, obviously they are similar, but to me, Nami was its own thing. A wave painting to be sure, but a unique spot in my mind reserved for something that simply didn't exist anymore. (Also- OMG dots.) I guess what I should have said is "Well, of course I'll be doing some wave paintings in the future! So pretty! So fun! Yay waves!!"
[And that's why artists rarely make sense.]
So, of course, I can't ever replace Nami, nor do I plan to, but I am enjoying an ongoing exploration of waves, Hawaiian, Japanese, and even just energy & sound waves within the universe.
Nalu will be on display at The Happening Gallery in Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles) from July 2nd to the 27th. An artists reception will be held on Saturday July 17th from 6-9pm. I'd love to see you and talk about this new painting in person!
1. natural lighting (near a sunny window)
2. artificial lighting (regular interior lighting)
3. combined uv and artificial lighting
4. uv lighting only (with a black light)
5. no light (glow in the dark for hours!)
A number of people have asked if I'm ever going to paint Nami again, and I kept saying "probably not" even while creating this new painting. I wasn't being coy, I honestly didn't connect them in my mind. I mean, obviously they are similar, but to me, Nami was its own thing. A wave painting to be sure, but a unique spot in my mind reserved for something that simply didn't exist anymore. (Also- OMG dots.) I guess what I should have said is "Well, of course I'll be doing some wave paintings in the future! So pretty! So fun! Yay waves!!"
[And that's why artists rarely make sense.]
So, of course, I can't ever replace Nami, nor do I plan to, but I am enjoying an ongoing exploration of waves, Hawaiian, Japanese, and even just energy & sound waves within the universe.
Nalu will be on display at The Happening Gallery in Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles) from July 2nd to the 27th. An artists reception will be held on Saturday July 17th from 6-9pm. I'd love to see you and talk about this new painting in person!
Farmers Market + Current Garden
This week we bought salad greens, carrots, nectarines [not as many as last time, which we would have been able to eat all of, but some of the nectarine pits were moldy inside, booooo], Japanese eggplants, Japanese cucumber, and Italian sweet peppers.
BIG SALAD tonight for dinner!!
Also my tomato plant has now grown to be taller than me and has intentions of taking over the world. Apparently worm castings are magical. I've never had a tomato plant grow like this. If I don't anchor the cage it's already in, I can guarantee it tipping over and killing me once it starts growing actual tomatoes. :oO
Space saving tip! I planted arugula in the plumeria container (to the right of the tomato plant) and it's doing fabulously. I also planted chives in the other plumeria container, and they're even starting to grow little purple chive flowers!
Now I have gardening AND wide open patio space. Hooray. :o)
HAPPY SUMMER!
Dead & Deadbeat Dad's Day
I think it was about 8 years ago that we began to celebrate this new holiday. Earlier in the day, Colin and I stood on the doorstep of his Dad, or at least that was his title at the time, hopeful he would answer. We had gift in hand, ready to wish him a happy day, despite not having seen him in many, many months. Though both cars were in the driveway, the lights were on indoors, and someone was clearly looking back at us through the peephole, the door didn't open. We knocked on it for a long time.
It was rather depressing.
Later, we decided to call Joe and go get Mongolian food. Joe's father had died in 2001, the exact same day my Grandfather died. After 2 classes together in college, you could say this event really cemented our friendship. Then he introduced me to his friend Colin, then we all lived together off and on, then he was the Best Man at our wedding, and even though he's lived in Dallas for a year now, he's still one of the best friends we've ever had. By far. He's celebrating Dead & Deadbeat Dad's Day in Texas this year, with his fellows.
It became a tradition for those of us who didn't have any obvious plans on Father's Day. We banded together, recognizing that we had each other, and all-you-can-eat Mongolian buffet. It was one of our favorite celebrations all year.
I've never met my father. Or, apparently I did once when I was 2, but... I don't remember it either way. I never felt a lack on Father's Day in my life until my Grandpa passed away. My Grandpa was the only father I'd ever known.
Today, with Joe gone to Dallas, we decided to eat Mongolian food with our Mom's, my grandma, and Colin's grandfather. I think it's fitting.
With that, I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to our grandparents, who were constant figures in our upbringings when others were not. To the small handful of men, like Chuck S., and John B., who showed us what real men are like, who have always answered the phone when we called, and who were always there to counsel and support us when we asked, despite having families and lives of their own. And, most importantly to our Mom's, who performed double-duty as parents when they weren't given a choice either. It wasn't easy or fun for them to be both mother and father to us, but they proved that some parents stick around, love their children, and will always, always be our parents regardless of what else is going on, or whatever excuse another might be inclined to make. They never made a choice to not be parents, and for that we honor them.
It's stacking up.
There's something special about snapping the plastic with my fingernail and unwrapping it from around my new, future artwork. At this moment, the painting is perfect.
Preparing for 2 shows this summer as well as decorating my favorite Japanese restaurant has left my little studio full of canvas waiting to be painted. I can only work on so many pieces at a time, so most of the canvas sits in stacks around the room, waiting for me, taunting me.
I move the stacks closer to my work space as I get nearer to painting them. It's like I'm slowly readying myself mentally for the tasks at hand. I feel the pressure. It encourages me.
I'm happy to have so much work to do and so many opportunities ahead of me. The truth is, I want and expect it to increase. I've always enjoyed a challenge, I think it makes my art better. I'm constantly improving my situation so that I might work harder, better, faster, stronger.
Sometimes, like today, I work so hard that I forget myself. I stood up quickly and smacked the back of my head on the 10 inch thick wooden beam holding up the staircase. It was a hard hit. It knocked me back to my knees. One ice pack and three Advil later, I'm doing much better. My neck will be sore. My head is bruised, as is my ego for confidently assuring my husband that I would always be cautious of the scary wooden beam. But, the sun is shining, the ducks are quacking, and from where I sit gazing out the magnificently tall glass windows of my condo, it looks gorgeous outside.
Must keep working.
[Speaking of Daft Punk, this is a lot of fun.]
Unforeseen . 16x20 . 2010
1. natural lighting (near a sunny window)
2. artificial lighting (regular interior lighting)
3. combined uv and artificial lighting
4. uv lighting only (with a black light)
5. no light (glow in the dark for hours!)
Inspired by sunsets seen along the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawaii in January 2010. Heavy vog colored the skies in smokey hues of pink and orange. Vog from the Kilauea Volcano on the island has increased over the last 2 years. There's no telling how long it might last. Since volcanoes exist in geological time, even 10,000 years would make this phenomenon a short one.
It was one of the eeriest, most beautiful things I've experienced.
It was one of the eeriest, most beautiful things I've experienced.
The sun would descend from a clear blue sky slowly into a foggy haze of warm colors, almost backlighting the thick layer of clouds. This would allow you to gaze directly at the sun, who's brightness diminished as it moved closer to the horizon. Even the horizon itself became blurred. The ocean reflected the colors of the sky, turning the sea to pink and orange.
Honestly, it felt like we were on Mars. Totally awesome.
This is my first full sized painting using a brand new technique of sunken lines instead of raised ones. :o)
Available in my Etsy shop.
Available in my Etsy shop.
Nectarines!
!!
We got them at our local Farmers Market on Sunday. I have no idea if we'll actually be able to eat all these, but if not, we'll make sangrias. :o)
We got them at our local Farmers Market on Sunday. I have no idea if we'll actually be able to eat all these, but if not, we'll make sangrias. :o)
Look! Now you can follow me!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->Because of a template mishap, this feature has been broken on my blog for basically the entirety of my blog. People have emailed me the entire time suggesting it might benefit me to add it. I'm finally taking you up on it. It's only been... 4 years.
And here we are.
It's like a clean slate. The start of something. I FEEL SO LIBERATED! :oO
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)